Teen fatally shot during altercation at carpark in Newcastle

A teenager has been shot dead during a fight in a beachside carpark, with police revealing new details of the shocking incident.

A gunman is still on the loose after a teenager was shot dead during a fight in a beachside carpark in Newcastle.

A man, believed to be aged 18, was found with a gunshot wound in the Bar Beach carpark on Memorial Drive at about 11.40pm on Wednesday.

Authorities believe a group of people had been fighting in the carpark when a white SUV pulled up, with a man armed with a rifle getting out and firing a shot before taking off in the vehicle.

The car was found torched in a nearby suburb a short while later.

A man has died after being shot during an altercation in a car park in a Newcastle suburb. Picture: NewsWire / John Appleyard

Police believe there was an altercation before the shooting. Picture: NewsWire / John Appleyard

Newcastle City Police Acting Superintendent Steve Benson told reporters on Thursday the teenager suffered a gunshot wound to his upper torso.

The teen was treated by paramedics but died at the scene.

He is yet to be formally identified, but police believe he was 18 years old.

Early police investigations suggest the gunman may not have been involved in the fight in the carpark. Picture: NewsWire / John Appleyard

NSW Police have confirmed the gunman is still on the loose, with initial investigations suggesting he may not have been involved in the fight at the carpark.

Superintendent Benson said the fight was between two groups of people, but was not believed to have been organised or otherwise connected to the shooting.

NSW Police and Counter-terrorism Minister Yasmin Catley suggested the incident was “random”.

Police Minister Yasmin Catley speaking to the media. Picture: NewsWire / John Appleyard

Ms Catley offered her thanks to the authorities on behalf of the community, and said NSW Police would “throw every resource” at the investigation, including a specialist task force.

“This community is a safe community,” she said.

“This is random … the police will do everything they can to ensure that they find out who has done this and put them before a court of law.”

Superintendent Benson said police were yet to confirm the exact circumstances surrounding the incident.

“We’re looking into all lines of inquiries,” he said. “We are yet to establish the motive.”

Ms Catley offered her condolences to the victim’s friends and family and said “this sort of death of a young person” was “not want we want to see” in the community.

“This sort of violence is not what we ever want to see on our streets … we’re not used to seeing it on our streets.”

A car was discovered on fire a short time later. Picture: NewsWire / John Appleyard

A crime scene has been established and police have launched an investigation with detectives and the Homicide Squad.

The area has been cordoned off by police.

Firefighters were then called to a car fire Bangalay Reserve just off Croudace Rd in Tingira Heights shortly after midnight.

It took crews about half an hour to extinguish the blaze, which destroyed the vehicle.

A second crime scene was established at Bangalay Reserve.

Police later confirmed the vehicle was the same used in the alleged shooting and believed to be stolen.

No arrests or charges have been laid.

Anyone with information or dashcam is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Originally published as Teen fatally shot during altercation at carpark in Newcastle